We're finally here! And now - Settling In! (Kansas City, Springfield: to live in, fence)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Arkie4Life

Hey LJ: I might look you up in a couple years! Inching closer to retirement and we love the atmosphere of the ENTIRE area.

Shucks, I guess there is no "Eutopia" here on this earth, but in the many visits my wife and I have made, I think you guys are close!

Curmudgeon: You have accomplished what many people dream to do. Retire in a great part of the United States amongst some very caring people. Sounds like you will fit right in. Who knows, maybe soon I can join you guys at the coffee shop!

You can't go wrong with LJ. By all means, join us in the coffee shop, wear your baseball cap and get ready to tell lies like the rest of us!

Originally Posted by misplaced1

Right because we all know TV gives us an accurate depiction of real life

You betchum! And we hope it keeps portraying the Ozarks as a back-woods, scattered settlement of bible-thumping, nearly toothless, incestuous rednecks so others will be disuaded from moving there.

[Arkie4Life]

Wow! Curmudgeon you can switch gears fast!

I'll bring some good lies with me, but you know what they say? First liar doesn't stand a chance!

Stay safe, and watch those pesky Californians! All they are is misplaced Arkies and Okies!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Arkie4Life

Wow! Curmudgeon you can switch gears fast!

I'll bring some good lies with me, but you know what they say? First liar doesn't stand a chance!

Stay safe, and watch those pesky Californians! All they are is misplaced Arkies and Okies!

OB is my mentor. Didn't you know that?

I'll let someone else start with the lies!

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

You betchum! And we hope it keeps portraying the Ozarks as a back-woods, scattered settlement of bible-thumping, nearly toothless, incestuous rednecks so others will be disuaded from moving there.

Music to my ears.
You have learned your lessons well, grasshopper.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Curmudgeon, you sound like so many others who have come here because they visited once or twice before and thought it beautiful and quaint, slow-paced and laid-back, cheap and easy. Then life got hard and they began complaining and then went away. Remember our friend Nexxie who couldn't find happiness in a beautiful home on 120 acres next to the Gasconade? Here are a couple of her posts to refresh your memory and to slow down others who are reading your posts and thinking about doing what you are preparing to do.

*snip previous posts*

After the leaves fall and this place browns up for the winter, don't come crying to me or any other Missourian that the place is ugly. If we get ice this winter, don't whine that the weather isn't what you expected. When tornadoes strike throughout southern Missouri next spring--and they will--don't get all scaredy cat on us.

You think you've done sufficient research and I hope you have. Welcome and good luck.

I moved to this area from New Orleans, and prior to that lived in large metropolitan cities all over the country (Phoenix, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Albuquerque, others).

Living here is not for someone who "needs" constant stimulation, be it shopping, eating HEALTHY food (emphasis Nexxi's) or even the ubiquitous "something to do". You have to be happy to sit on the porch "of an evening" (as they say) and watch the cars drive by. You have to be happy to sit in your house and knit or cook or just "whatever" when the ice hits on January and you are out of electricty for 10 days or more. Being reliant on television, electric lights and such is a real handicap when you don't have any electricty. (NOTE: You need a back up heat source that is NOT electricty driven). You have to be willing to jump in a storm shelter at 3 am in the driving rain if there is a tornado warning.

It's all part of the package. And for your sacrifices you are rewarded with kind, generous caring people, genuine friendships, low/no crime, peace and quiet and tomatoes as big as your foot.

It's a fair trade off for me. But it's most definitely NOT for everyone. I hope that Curmudgeon is very happy here.

20yrsinBranson

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

It's all part of the package. And for your sacrifices you are rewarded with kind, generous caring people, genuine friendships, low/no crime, peace and quiet and tomatoes as big as your foot.

It's a fair trade off for me. But it's most definitely NOT for everyone. I hope that Curmudgeon is very happy here.

20yrsinBranson

We'll be fine and it's precisely what we have wanted. The kind, friendly and considerate people -- teeth or no teeth - are what puts the icing on the cake!

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

Living here is not for someone who "needs" constant stimulation, be it shopping, eating HEALTHY food (emphasis Nexxi's) or even the ubiquitous "something to do". You have to be happy to sit on the porch "of an evening" (as they say) and watch the cars drive by. You have to be happy to sit in your house and knit or cook or just "whatever" when the ice hits on January and you are out of electricty for 10 days or more. Being reliant on television, electric lights and such is a real handicap when you don't have any electricty. (NOTE: You need a back up heat source that is NOT electricty driven). You have to be willing to jump in a storm shelter at 3 am in the driving rain if there is a tornado warning.

It's all part of the package. And for your sacrifices you are rewarded with kind, generous caring people, genuine friendships, low/no crime, peace and quiet and tomatoes as big as your foot.

It's a fair trade off for me. But it's most definitely NOT for everyone. I hope that Curmudgeon is very happy here.

20yrsinBranson

Sometimes I think you are bitter about living here, then other times, like this one, you sound like a city slicker who gets it.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Sometimes I think you are bitter about living here, then other times, like this one, you sound like a city slicker who gets it.

I'll grant you that life can be a strange paradox at times. For me, yes, I miss some of the finer things that are lacking here in the sticks. But in the long run, when all is said and done, what I have gained by living here far exceeds that which I have lost.

It takes time and determination and enlightenment to accept different ways of life. I try to stay focused on the positive. Once in a while a little negative creeps in. I'm human after all. But I wouldn't trade living here for anything. There is nothing so fine in life as sitting on the back porch in June and watching the fireflies while you listen to the "peeper" frogs singing around a pond nearby. Nothing like sitting at your breakfast table and watching a scrawny coyote lope across your yard in the morning dew, or the quiet of a September morning when the air is cool and the leaves are turning rich colors.

It's a very good life. Teeth or no teeth. <wink>

20yrsinBranson

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

And best of luck to you and Mrs. CBM! Time fliers when you're having fun so if you ever need a break to experience some normalcy on the lake, we'll have a guest room!

A guest room??!! Be assured that Mrs. Northbayeric and I would leave it in better shape than when we first occupy it! We're all gonna want to come right on over and hob-nob with you (But I doubt you would accept our good looks alone, or payment in the form of California registered warrants....hee hee hee hee!!! ) Yep, Bassman and I've been eyeballing what'll be your new part of the country for some time....he likes to fish and I like to hike, so no worries for O.B.!

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

We'll be fine and it's precisely what we have wanted. The kind, friendly and considerate people -- teeth or no teeth - are what puts the icing on the cake!

I'm figgerin' they prob'ly do a fine job keepin' da Wal-Mart shelvths thtocked with plenty o' Efferdent....

..... .......

[Arkie4Life]

No wonder there's not many dentists in Missouri and Arkansas! Not much need.

Wonder where they will go when the last person is fitted with dentures?